Misfit by Jon Skovron

 Misfit by Jon Skovron

Release Date: August 1, 2011

Publisher: Amulet Books, Imprint of Abrams

Age: Young Adult

Source: ARC from friend

Pre-order your own: Barnes and Noble

Jael has always felt like a freak. She’s never kissed a boy, she never knew her mom, and her dad’s always been super strict—but that’s probably because her mom was a demon, which makes Jael half demon and most definitely not a normal sophomore girl. On her sixteenth birthday, a mysterious present unlocks her family’s dangerous history and Jael’s untapped potential. What was merely an embarrassing secret before becomes a terrifying reality. Jael must learn to master her demon side in order to take on a vindictive Duke of Hell while also dealing with a twisted priest, best-friend drama, and a spacey blond skater boy who may have hidden depths.

Author Jon Skovron takes on the dark side of human nature with his signature funny, heartfelt prose.

     One thing I have to say about Misfit by Jon Skovron is that it was completely different than many things I’ve read in the past. Skovron gave it a dark feeling, but throughout the entire book, he still managed to make you realize that Jael, while trying to get in touch with her Demon side, was still trying to do the right thing.  The format of the story was also interesting, as rather than changing from narrator to narrator, it alternates between past and present.  One chapter you hear whats happening to Jael currently and the next chapter, your listening to the Demon hunting adventures of

I am Number Four by Pittacus Lore

In the beginning they were a group of nine. Nine aliens who left their home planet of Lorien when it fell under attack by the evil Mogadorian. Nine aliens who scattered on Earth. Nine aliens who look like ordinary teenagers living ordinary lives, but who have extraordinary, paranormal skills. Nine aliens who might be sitting next to you now.

The Nine had to separate and go into hiding. The Mogadorian caught Number One in Malaysia, Number Two in England, and Number Three in Kenya. All of them were killed. John Smith, of Paradise, Ohio, is Number Four. He knows that he is next.

I Am Number Four is the thrilling launch of a series about an exceptional group of teens as they struggle to outrun their past, discover their future—and live a normal life on Earth.

I AM NUMBER FOUR.
I AM NEXT.

I am Number Four is definitely one of my favorite books of all time.  If you don't like alien books, please give it a try anyway!  I'm not a big fan of aliens in a book myself because descriptions can just get sort of painstakingly wordy when you are trying to picture a foreign creature, but I am Number Four is nothing like that.  I just loved how it was just a good, clean, beautiful read.  The romance between John Smith and Sarah Hart was just so…light?  I can't think of a word to describe it, but I liked that it was sort of shy and they were a perfect fit for each other.  They weren't desperate for each other.  There was also a very surprising twist at the end, too.  The characters were all described perfectly and given a personality to match.  I really liked how Sarah was into photography, I guess I just liked that you felt like you knew so much about the characters; like how you were taken into John's memories of Lorien.  I read this book back in February on a ski trip and I remember rushing to read it so that we could see the movie (which did not match the book at all :(, but was still good) while we were on vacation.  It wasn't a story that you needed to dwell on, either; I just blew right through it and Loved it!  I cannot wait to read the sequel, coming out in August and I just really hope I can get my hands on an ARC so I can review it on Remarkable Reads! :)

Overall: ★★★★★

Matched by Allie Condie

Cassia has always trusted the Society to make the right choices for her: what to read, what to watch, what to believe. So when Xander's face appears on-screen at her Matching ceremony, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is her ideal mate . . . until she sees Ky Markham's face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black.

The Society tells her it's a glitch, a rare malfunction, and that she should focus on the happy life she's destined to lead with Xander. But Cassia can't stop thinking about Ky, and as they slowly fall in love, Cassia begins to doubt the Society's infallibility and is faced with an impossible choice: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she's known and a path that no one else has dared to follow.

Look for CROSSED, the sequel to MATCHED, in Fall 2011!

     Forbidden Love…how could anyone not like the idea?  Add in a dysotopian background and abracadabra- an amazing book!  Matched by Allie Condie is a gem!  I will definitely be purchasing the paperback when it comes out in September !  The story was so beautiful and intriguing; It left me wondering who my match would be if we lived in Cassia's society.  I also really liked how Cassia was so curious and accepting of Ky Markam's lifestyle and how she stood up for him.  Allie Condie crafted a story where I was able to fall in love with both of the major male roles in the story.  

     When I read Matched, I actually did not read it.  I checked it out in audiobook format from my local library and I actually really liked the voice of the reader because I felt like it was perfectly matched (no pun intended ;) ) to my mental depiction of Cassia.

     As I write this review, I'm trying really hard to think of something bad to say about the novel, but I honestly cannot think of anything!  I would definitely recommend this novel to anyone who is into YA.

Overall: 5/5

Happy Reading!,

   Jessie @ Remarkable Reads

    

Divergent by Veronica Roth

In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself. 

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her. 

This book made me speechless.  I am literally incapable of describing how good it was.  So far all I can come up with is that it is my favorite book-EVER!  Veronica Roth told of characters who were like real people.  I felt like I could have actually met Beatrice Prior, she had real emotions and feelings!  Four had conflicting personalities.  Their were misunderstandings and real life situations, along with romance, and dysotopian elements!  I was shocked by Beatrice's choice, as was I shocked by many other things in the novel.  I don't think that I've ever liked a book so much!  I've never really wanted to read a book more than once, but for the first time I actually would.  I have one thing to ask you,  Why are you still reading this review?!  You should be on your way to the local bookstore (shop indie!) or heading over to ebay or amazon and buying your copy of Divergent !!  Click on the link below to purchase it.

Overall:  ∞ out of 5   (That's infinity)

Divergent (Divergent Trilogy)

And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie

     

Although I read this book a while ago, it is definitely one of my favorite books!  It follows several guests who have been invited to an island on vacation by a mysterious host, each for a different reason, but when one of the guests gets murdered, suspisions quickly rise as the guests become panicked.  There is no Internet, cell phone service or way off of the island.  Soon more quests start dying and disappearing as the mystery begins to unfold.

     This book was amazing!  Although it is mostly an adult novel, it is commonly read in the ninth grade.  The book was easily comprehendible and drew me in more with every word I read.  It was one of the most fantastic books I have read in a long time and I highly encourage you to purchase it or check it out from your local library! Either way, Happy Reading!!!

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin (May 3, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312330871